State infrastructure strategy

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Infrastructure NSW was created in 2011 and is governed by the Infrastructure NSW Act 2011.

The objective of the Infrastructure NSW Act 2011 is:

To secure the efficient, effective, economic and timely planning, coordination, selection, funding, implementation, delivery and whole-of-lifecycle asset management of infrastructure that is required for the economic and social well-being of the community.

To ensure that decisions about infrastructure projects are informed by expert professional analysis and advice.

Pursuant to Section 8(2) of the Infrastructure NSW Act 2011, the Treasury Secretary is an ex officio member of the Infrastructure NSW Board.

Every five years, Infrastructure NSW assesses the current state of infrastructure in NSW and the needs and priorities for the State over the next 20 years. NSW Treasury supports Infrastructure NSW in development of the 20-year State Infrastructure Strategy through the provision of economic and fiscal analysis. The SIS is then submitted to the premier in accordance with Section 16 of the Act.

The State Infrastructure Strategy (SIS) 2012-2032

The initial 2012 SIS, titled ‘First Things First’, was Infrastructure NSW’s independent advice to the NSW Government that assessed the current state of infrastructure in NSW and the needs and strategic priorities for infrastructure for the next 20 years. It was the first time a prioritised and costed long-term strategy had been developed for the Government’s consideration. The document covered urban and regional projects and reforms across transport, freight, aviation, energy, water, health, education and social infrastructure.

State Infrastructure Strategy Update 2014

During 2014 an update to the SIS was prepared by Infrastructure NSW as directed by the Premier to guide how proceeds from the Rebuilding NSW initiative could be spent to accelerate the growth in NSW. The SIS Update 2014 highlights the importance of supporting productivity growth in our major centres and our regional communities while sustaining population growth towards almost six million people in Sydney and more than nine million people in NSW.

The NSW Government’s response

In December 2012 the NSW Government released its response to the State Infrastructure Strategy 2012-2032, in which it supported or noted 63 of Infrastructure NSW’s 70 recommendations for projects and reforms. These recommendations were aimed at addressing key infrastructure priorities around urban roads, bus and light rail, passenger trains, international gateways, regional and interstate transport, water, education and justice.

Further, the Government released its response to the SIS Update 2014 as part of the Rebuilding NSW Plan that reinvests the $20 billion asset recycling proceeds from the State’s electricity businesses into new infrastructure to boost the State’s economic productivity.

How is the State Infrastructure Strategy implemented?

The Government's SIS is implemented through prioritisation embedded in the Budget process that identifies specific major infrastructure projects to be undertaken in the short term as a priority for resource allocation and delivery. Drawing from the SIS released in 2012, the Government published its first State Infrastructure Plan detailing funded infrastructure priorities over the next five years in the 2013-14 Budget Papers (Paper Number 4, Chapter 3).

Infrastructure NSW is currently developing the next 20-year State Infrastructure Strategy.